Birds DunRite

The Finch is one of the more favored backyard birds.  Their favorite habitat are trees but they have accepted man-made houses.  They will nest in either bird houses or platforms.  The ideal Finch birdhouse should have approximately a 6 x6 inch floor and a height from 6 to 12 inches with an entrance  hole of 1 1/8 to 1 1/2″ diameter located at least 4 1/2 inches above the floor and ventilation opening.  They should be assembled with corrosion-resistant screws.  A hinged-roof is recommended which should be secured with shutter hooks for easy access.

The Finch bird house should be predator and competitor-proof.  It is best to mount the birdhouses on  a post in the middle of a yard but near enough to some foliage.

When building Finch bird houses, one should choose the right materials.  A naturally decay-resistant wood such as redwood, cedar or a good grade of exterior plywood is ideal. Wood should be at least 3/4″ thick as anything less will allow heat to build-up which is detrimental to the babies. Natural looking Finch bird houses are more attractive to the birds, thus the use of paint is best avoided.

 Proper drainage and ventilation is a must. Proper drainage can be provided through an ample overhang on the roof and 1/4″ drain holes bored in each corner of the floor. Suitable ventilation is posible by driling 1/2″ vent holes at the top of each side or with a ventilation gap between the roof and sides.

Building Finch bird houses can be a wonderful time to spend with the family. It can be a fun way for children to learn about nature. A Finch birdhouse that is not only well constructed but made with the Finch in mind will provide much joy for both the birds and the watcher.

The Clair Murray creation of a classic wind swept cottage on the high ground of “Siasconset” features architecture from the beloved island of Nantucket. The Sconset Cottage, as the area is affectionately known, is a functional wooden bird house with two separate nest boxes. The gray bird house is surrounded with a white picket fence and rests on a moss green base.  This decorative bird house is big, so it will require a post mounting or one of our signature pedestals.

In 1999, Home Bazaar set out to create the world’s most spectacular line of bird houses and bird feeders. In their workshop, they have combined their love of birds and nature along with technical and design abilities.

Avian Housing reaches new heights with Home Bazaar’s distinctive line of architectural bird houses and bird feeders. Take a bird’s eye view of their Victorian designs enhanced by authentic scroll work and turn-of-the-century, cottage inspired embellishments, giving you and your feathered friends the finest in avian housing. All of Home Bazaar’s birding products are designed for outdoor use in the garden or can be enjoyed in the home as a decorative accessory. 

Their distinctive bird houses and bird feeders can be matched up with an accommodating garden pedestal. These pieces can be easily placed in the backyard or in a garden setting. The cottage design combined with the Victorian scroll work often end up close to the home, on a covered porch, and in many cases, as a decorative feature in the home.

The availability of clean, preferably moving, water is the single most important feature in attracting birds to your backyard.  In fact, studies have shown you will attract two to three times the frequency of bird visits to your backyard bird sanctuary by including water and the easiest way to include water is with bird baths.

The depth of the water is important — the best variable depth is approximately 3 inches.  If you are modifying a deeper bowl, you can secure a screen below the water level or build up the base by adding river rocks and then carefully fill with smaller pebbles so birds cannot get trapped.

Make sure the water is not stagnant; splashing of moving water is more appealing to the birds.  Hosing out the bath daily is optimum for the health of your birds, as well as a good cleaning at least once a week.

In winter, consider using an automatic electric heater in your birdbath or consider the heated bird baths so that birds have access to clean, ice-free water during this critical period.   Do not use water additives such as glycerin or small amounts of antifreeze which are poisonous to birds.

Americans keep an estimated 60 million cats as pets. Let’s say each cat kills only one bird a year. That would mean that cats kill over 60 million birds (minimum) each year - more wildlife than any oil spill.  Scientific studies actually show that each year, cats kill hundreds of millions of migratory songbirds.  

Feline predation is not “natural.” Cats were domesticated by the ancient Egyptians and taken throughout the world by the Romans. Cats were brought to North America in the 1800’s to control rats. The “tabby” that sits curled up on your couch is not a natural predator and has never been in the natural food chain in the Western Hemisphere.

Cats are a serious threat to fledglings, birds roosting at night and birds on a nest. Research shows that de-clawing cats and bell collars do not prevent them from killing birds and other small animals. For healthy cats and safe wild birds, cats should not be allowed to roam free. One precaution we can take with bird feeders and bird houses mounted on poles is to add a predator guard to the base of the pole which prevents cats and other small predators from climbing the pole.

A popular hanging platform bird feeder is the Aspect Vista Dome Feeder.  The attached protective dome keeps seed dry and prevents squirrels from raiding.  They can spend hours trying but they just slip right off the dome as they try to reach the seed.  Total frustration!  We have been able to lower the dome to make a small opening and the small birds still love it–some even get inside under the dome for a private picnic.  The larger birds just leave it alone.

This is also an excellent birdfeeder for mealworms.  If you are feeding live mealworms, the sides are high and straight enough to keep them in.  If you want to give the birds a real treat, mealworms are it!

Plan to refill your bird feeders as early as possible every morning so the birds are greeted with fresh seeds.  Place your feeder in an open area with cover that is only a couple feet away so the birds can dive for cover if threatened.  Choose a site protected from strong winds.  And of course, place your bird feeders for your viewing and enjoyment.

It will soon be fall and then winter and I want to remind you of this unique weatherproof birdfeeder that can guarantee that seed stays 100 percent dry and available to the birds regardless if it is a blizzard or springtime rains.  The bird feeders are constructed of UV-stabilized polycarbonate and available in the original clear and a new “clear green” color.

Birds feed from a lower platform and reach up into a fully-sheltered slot to feed from the feeder.  Cleaning out ice, snow, and rain from the troughs and seed ports of other bird feeders is a messy job.  The birds benefit from seed always being available and from better sanitation due to no wet, moldy or spoiled seed.  The All Weather Feeder® is the most sanitary feeder available on the market.  Other important features include high capacity (4-quart and 6-quart models) and ease of filling.  These are important for our ever growing more mature population who are becoming bird enthusiasts.

This is a birdfeeder that is super for inclimate weather but also a joy to use all year-round.

Fall is a great season to start feeding the birds if you do not feed year around.  Even though natural foods are still available, birds are scouting in advance for winter feeding areas.  Fall is also a good time to attract migrating birds that will use your birdfeeder as a stop off before continuing their journey.  If you wait until the harsh winter weather arrives, birds cannot always afford the luxury of exploring in the harsh weather so start offering provisions early.

Winter weather is hard on birds.  Their calorie requirements increase,  food becomes hard to find, snow covers up the seeds and ice storms seal away the tree buds and wild fruits.  Tiny birds must eat a third to three quarters of its weight each day.  Your bird feeders and yard can be included in their fall inventories and when that first winter storm hits, they will show up, hungry and chirping.

During winter periods of extended ice and snow cover or a harsh storm, your bird feeders may be a temporary lifesaving-feeding source and a valuable contribution to their survival.

The American kestrel is the best-known and smallest bird of prey in North America, measuring just 9 inches long with a wingspan of 22 inches.  Both sexes have a russet back and tail, and double black stripes on a white face.  The males have blue-gray wing covers and cap.  Their call is “killy, killy, killy.”

Roadside fields and grassy areas are perfect hunting grounds for this insect-eating hawk.  It is not uncommon for American kestrels to live near humans.  In fact, they’re so friendly they will sometimes go to bird feeders for food.  They will readily move into a large birdhouse on a pole or in a tree, 10 to 30 feet above the ground.

American kestrels are faced with a lack of suitable nesting cavities.  You can help them out by building bird houses and ideally install them on free-standing, 10 to 12 foot high posts by February 1.  Kestrels are most likely to start nesting in May, but they are early migrants, so it’s better to have them up and ready early.  You may need to check your kestrel bird houses every week for starlings that have nested and laid eggs.  Kestrel eggs are a pink-ish, cinnamon color with specks of brown. Occasional checking in on the nest box will not cause kestrels to abandon the nest.

This colorful falcon has charmed its way into backyards across the country and is giving us the chance to enjoy their antics in our backyard birding.

Purple Martins are voracious eaters of insects and a colony can consume thousands of insects each day.  In addition to the joy of having the birds, this is a reason many people construct artificial nesting houses to attract martins to their home for natural insect control.

One type of nesting structure is a gourd house.  Large gourds are the best for purple martins.  Choose a gourd that is at least 8 inches in diameter and 6 inches tall. The gourd should be seasoned well enough to hear the seeds rattling when you shake it.  Once it is completely dry, it is ready to be prepared.

Lightly sand any black mold off the outside.  Mark and then drill or cut a circular 2 1/4 inch hole about 4 inches above the bottom of the gourd.  Be sure the bottom of this entrance  hole is not too low to the bottom.  This will prevent fledglings from falling out of the gourd before it is time for them to leave the nest.  A hole saw bit with your drill is quick and makes a smooth, uniform hole. Bore several 1/4″ holes in the bottom for adequate drainage.  Drill four or five additional holes for ventilation around the neck of the gourd about 3 inches from the top.

Clean out the dried seeds and drill a 1/4″ hole through the top.  Attach a wire hanger and your purple martin bird house is ready for hanging.  Natural gourds are durable, and if well-cared for, will last as long as 30 years.  It is customary to hang about a half dozen gourds from horizontal poles attached to a vertical pole or purchase a gourd rack.

Purple Martins seem to prefer natural gourds over any other type of commercial houses and what could be more fun and easier than making gourd bird houses.